, 1887-03-29
SCENE IN WASHINGTON TERRITORY.
A Long Procession of Mounted Savages.
A Most Impressive Spectacle.

n Long procession OF Mounted Savages.
A Most Impressive Spectacle.
Some years ago, in late August, l was
travelling from the land Of the Blackfeet
to Walla Walla, in Washington territory.
l had followed an Indian trail from the
Saskatchewan plains to the Cadotte pass.
In the pass l unsaddled my horse for his
oon feed and sat down to smoke. 1 had
just left a noisy, buffalo hunting Indian
camp, and presently 1 conjured an Indian
scene. Columns of Indians, painted and
stripped to their breech clouts, filed past
Inc and disappeared in the haze which
hung over the eastern plains. Great
herds of buffalo sprang into life in my
brain, and bands of Cheyennes, Sioux
and Blackfeet pursued them. When the
buffalo were falling and the plains be-
hind me were q map of ever shifting
light and color and active life, the Utes,
mounted and with bent bows md long,
grooved war arrows drawn to their heads,
dashed past me and battle, savage and
bloody, ragged below.
l sat smoking and wondering why men
ever became lonesome when they could re-
people the remote solitude of highland and
plain and enjoy scene of human interest.
when my horse threw up his head and
smiled inquir1ngly OF the air mt then
trotted to me, and stood by my side look
ing at the summit of the pass, which was
a few yards above us. Presently an In
dams head appeared above the crest of
the range. l sat and looked at him and
he looked at me. Soon another and another
and another dark and savage visaged head
rose above the crest, and then the head
of "a rnlt1pnn IF nnntrnfaI Ipdiono ro1n into
sight. They were singing their marching
song-much as the Indians in the Wild
West show do. Every trail was occupied.
The Indians looked neither to the right
nor to the left, but marched slowly past
me. There were old men, and warriors,
and young men, all with their rifles across
their knees, and hundreds of women,
some of whom were handsome, and many
children, aud an army Of dogs brought
up the rear.
l thought / had conjured to very good
effect. For an hour this column swept
past me. and l sat on q rock and smoked
and looked at them. Not q word was
spoken to me. Hardly a glance was cast
at me. The migrating people talked to
one another, and laughed, and had a good
time generally. Three thousand Indians
defled in front Of me. They were
gay with bright colored shirts, and
gaudy blankets, and many colored
painted faces. 1 knew that these In
dams were portions of the Nez Perce,
Flathead, Spokane, Okinagan, Wenat-
choe, and Peud OreiIle tribes, and that
they were going to hunt buffalo on the
Saskatchewan plains and to fight the
Blackfeet. These Indians riding past me
in the Cadotte pass made one of the most
impressive spectacles l ever saw in the
heart of the republic.
That evening about dark, while | was
riding westward on the Blackfoot river
trail, l met a belated Indian who was
hurrying after the main body. He made
signs of inquiry to me, and l answered
with signs. l did not fully understand
the sign language, and the anxious Indian
failed to interpret my meaning. Evil
IDENTIFY l conveyed information of direful
import. The dusky warrior started in
his saddle. He slapped his mouth with
open palm to express his great surprise,
then wheeled his horse and galloped off
before l had finished telling my story. 1
have often wondered what l really told
that s~avageand~o what I impelled him.
Frank Wilkeson in New York Times.